A Conwy woman whose business acumen has already earned her one major award is in the running for another – this time for her work in the caring profession.
Last year Michelle Willis, who is managing director and registered manager with Carelink Homecare Service Ltd, was named as Business Woman of the Year, which was sponsored by Conwy County Borough Council.
Now she has been shortlisted in this year’s Wales Care Awards organised by Care Forum Wales, having been included in the category for Leadership and Management in Supported Living or Small Group Community Living. The category is sponsored by Christie and Co, and the prizes will be presented at a glittering ceremony in Cardiff’s City Hall on October 21.
Michelle, who trained as a nurse at the Royal Free Hospital in London, began working for Carelink after moving to live in Anglesey. She also worked as a school nurse in Rydal School, Colwyn Bay, and in the A & E department at Glan Clwyd Hospital before buying Carelink in 1997.
At that time the agency covered only Anglesey, but she has since built up the business to employ 86 staff who support the elderly and physically disabled in Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy.
Despite being heavily involved in the management of the company Michelle, 41, is determined not to abandon the caring side of the job.
“At present we have about 200 service-users and I know them all, but if we expanded any more the danger would be that I would become detached from that side of things,” she said.
Michelle was nominated by her husband Steve, a physiotherapist and director of Carelink Training Services Ltd, which organises accredited training courses for Carelink staff.
“Michelle recognises that providing professional training to all her staff on a regular basis will ensure not only competent and capable care workers but will ensure that the service user will receive the best possible care provided by Carelink Homecare Services,” said Steve.
She sees professional development as a vital part of the service, encouraging all staff to better themselves, while she herself is currently taking an executive management course at Bangor University.
In support of her nomination, one of her clients wrote: “It’s the first care firm I’ve had that actually really wants to care for me and in the way that I want to be cared for.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Honorary Chief Executive of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”
